Automatic switch



March 17, 1931. R. cARABA AUTOMATIC SWITCH Filed March 13, 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet l air (Mia,

INVENTOR ATTORNEY s s E N w w March 17, 1931.

R. CARABA AUTOMATIC SWITCH Filed March 13, 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEY WITNESS:

March 17, 1931. CARABA 1,797,072

AUTOMATIC SWITCH Filed March 13, 1929 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 lizzwlpk lm'aa,

INVENTOR W' I r BY m 0 WITNESS: ATTORNEY Patented Mar. 17, 1931 UNITED STATES RUDOLPH CARABA, or CHICAGO, ILLINOIS AUTOMATIC SWITCH Application filed March 13, 1929. Serial No. 346,739.

This invention relates to time controlled switches for aiiltomatically controlling the flow of current to electric devices, the invention being especially useful for lighting and extinguishing electric lamps in business houses and the like; for closing and opening the circuit in a radio apparatus. and for various other purposes where it is desired to open and close a circuit at predetermined intervals.

Another object of the invention isthe provision of a time switch which may be included in an electric circuit. and which is provided with means whereby the current may be directed through or shunted around the switch mechanism as desired,a'nd without disconnecting the switch.

With the above and other objects in View, the invention further includes the following novel features and details of construction. to

be hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings F igure 1 is an elevation of a time controlled switch constructed in accordance with the invention.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of: the same.

Figure 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially on the line 3-3 of Figure 5.

Figure 4 is a section on the line of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional. view taken substantially on the line 5-5 of Figure 1.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary sectional. View through the clock dial and showing the spiral contact member.

Figure 7 is a detail perspective view of th spiral contact member.

Figure 8 is a diagrammatical view illustrating the wiring diagram.

Referring to the drawings in detail where in like characters of reference denote corresponding parts, the reference character 1.0 indicates the case of a clock of any suitable type, the minute hand of which is indicated at 11 while the hour hand is shown at 12.

The dial of the clock which is indicated at 13 is mounted upon an insulated disk 14 hour hand 12 in its travel over the face of the dial passes over these openings.

Rotatably mounted upon an insulated bushing 16 which is positioned upon the dial is a metallic disk 17 which is provided with teeth 18 around its periphery. By reference to Figure 5 of the drawings it willbe seen that this disk is insulated from the clock mechanism through the medium of the bushing 16. Mounted upon the bushing 16 is one end 19 of a radially disposed arm 20. the latter being secured to the disk as shown at 21. The arm, 20 has extending therefrom one end of a spiral contact member 22 whose tree pointed end 23 is arranged to be projected through any one of the openings 15 when the i=1 disk 17 is rotated in one direction and to be withdrawn from said opening when the disk is rotated in an opposite direction.

In order to rotate the disk 17, the teeth 15 are engaged bya pin-ion 24 which is secured I upon the inner end of a shaft 25. This shaft is mounted in an insulated bearing sleeve 26 which extends through the clock case 10 and which is provided upon its outer end with a knurled finger piece 27, by means of which the shaft 25 may be conveniently rotated.

Mounted upon and insulated from the clock case as shown at 28 are spaced contacts 29, 30 and 31. The contacts 29 and 30 have their outer ends bifurcated to receive a contact blade 32 which is pivotally mounted upon the contact 31 as shown at 33 and which is provided with an insulated finger piece 34.

The content 29 is grounded to the clock frame by means of a conductor 35 and for this purpose the frame is provided with an arm 36 which carries a bearing 37 for the inner end of the shaft 25. The contact 29 is also connected with a source of current through a line wire 38 while the contact 30 is connected to the contact member 22 by means of a conductor 39. The contact 22 is insulated from the clock hand 12 as shown at 40 and this hand is grounded to the clock frame as shown at 41.

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The conductor 31 is connected by means of a conductor 42 with a line wire 43 and a plurality of lamps or other electric devices 44 are connected in the line wire 43. The wires 38 and 42 may be bridged by a suitable switch 45.

In the use of the invention, if it is desired to close the circuit at eleven oclock and light the lights 44 and extinguish these lights at three oclock, the switch arm 42 is engaged with the contact 30, the switch 45 being open. Current will flow through the wire 43, the lamps 44, the conductor 42, the contact-31, the switch arm 32, the contact 30, the conductor 39 and the contact member 22. By

reference to Figure 1 of the drawings it will I be seen that this contact member 22 is passed through the opening directly beneath the hour indicated by eleven and the free end of this member terminates at three. Therefore, when the hand 12 reaches the eleventh hour it will engage the contact member 22 so that current will then flow from this contact member through the hand 12, the conductor 41 to the clock frame and from this frame to the conductor 38. The circuit will remain closed as long as the hand 12 engages the contact member 22 or during the travel of this hand from eleven oclock to three oclock.

' To project the free end of the contact member through any one of the openings, the said member is rotated in an anti-clockwise direction through the medium of the knob 27, until the free end of this member is opposite the particular hour the circuit is to be closed. The contact member is then moved in a clockwise direction and due to the offset position of the free end of this member it will pass through the opening and rotation may be continued until the free end of the contact member reaches the hour it is desired to again open the circuit. 7 r I By engaging the switch arm 32 with the contact 29, the time switch will be cut out of the circuit and current will flow through the conductor 43, the conductor 42, the contact 31, the switch arm 32, the contact 29 and the conductor 38. The lights 44 will thus remain lighted irrespective of the time mecha nism. By closing the switch 45, the entire device may be cut out of the circuitso that current will flow through the conductor 43, the lamps 44, the switch 45'and the conductor 38.

The minute hand 11 is preferably insulated as at 46 to prevent arcing when this hand passes over the contact 22. e V

The invention is susceptible of various changes in its form, proportions and minor details of construction and the right is here-.

in reserved to make such changes as prop- 1. In an electric time switch, a clock having openings spaced circumferentially around the dial and having hands at one side of the dial, a rotatable member located in the clock and on opposite side of the dial from the hands of said clock, a contact member carried by said rotatable member and adapted to be included in an electric circuit, means for rotating said rotatable member in either direction to move the contact member into and out of the path of the hands of the clock by way of the openings, and means to connect the referred to hands in said circuit.

2. In an electric time switch, a clock having openings spaced circumferentially around the dial and having hands at one side of the dial, a rotatable member located in the clock and on an opposite side of the dial from the hands of said clock, a spiral contact member having one end secured to said rotatable member and adapted to be included in an electric circuit, means for operating said rotatable member in either direction to move the free end of the spiral contact member into and out of the path of the hands of the clock by way of the openings, said free end of the contact member adapted to overlie several ofthe openings when moved through one of the latter, and means to connect the referred to hands in said circuit.

3. In an electric time switch, a clock having slots radially disposed in the dial and having hands at one side of the dial, a rotatable member located in the clock and on an opposite side of the dial from the hands of said clock, a spiral contact member having one end secured to said rotatable member and adapted to be included in an electric circuit, a gear secured to said rotatable member, operating means engaging the gear to move the con-. tact member in either direction, the free end of said contact member adapted when moved in one direction to pass through one of the slots and overlie several of the other slots on an opposite side of the dial from the rotat able member to be engaged by the hands, and means to connect the referred to hands in said circuit. I

In testimony whereof I aliix my signature.

RUDOLPH CAR-ABA.

erly fall within the scope of the appended 4 claims.

Having described the invention what is claimed 1s: 

